Community Corner

River Hill Columbia Association Board Candidates' Survey Responses

Incumbent Michael Cornell is running against Clayborne Chavers.

Respondents answered the following questions via email. Their responses are here in full.

Tell us about yourself, what do you do, how long have you lived in Columbia?


Michael Cornell

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My first foray into Columbia was moving to Wilde Lake in 1983. Later, after 10 years away, marriage, and two children, my wife Bonnie and my son Zac, a River Hill High School alum, and my daughter Alana, an Atholton High School Alum, moved back to Columbia in River Hill where we’ve been for over 17 years. 

After working with not-for-profit credit unions for over 15 years, I currently work with small businesses as a marketing/ business consultant and life/executive coach in Baltimore. One area of focus is helping businesses with their planning and implementation.

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During my time here, I served as Cub Scout Master Pack 702, as an assistant coach on several youth sports teams, and as “the hot dog man” for the River Hill Piranhas. I also served on the board of directors at Oseh Shalom Congregation and on the River Hill Village Association Board of Directors.  After years of environmental activism, including two years as co-chair of the Maryland Green Party, most recently, I have been involved in community theater with Shadow Block and Silhouette Stages theater troops, and now finishing my third term as the River Hill representative to the Columbia Council. Also, I currently serve as the Charter Organization Representative to Boy Scout Troop 618.

Clayborne Chavers

I have lived in Columbia since 1979.

In River Hill since 1994.


Why are you running for the Columbia Association Board of Directors?


Michael Cornell

After three terms as an non-paid volunteer director, I would like to continue to serve with the Board and President Phil Nelson on seeing through CA’s developing focus on innovation, making the organization more responsive and flexible, and staying focused on setting and achieving consistent objectives to maintain Columbia’s outstanding quality of life.

Clayborne Chavers

There is a struggle at CA between those who want it to be a homeowners association responsive to its residents, and those who want it to be and act as an independent commercial business entity, a corporation.  Although CA is a large business that must operate efficiently, it is still a homeowner association financed by what is in all respects, a tax-lien on properties that residents must pay.  I want CA to represent and include all of its residents.

I think I can help make that happen as for over 30 years that is what I have done as an attorney.


What experience do you have that would (or currently does) make you an effective CA Board member?


Michael Cornell

I have served one year as vice-chairman, and one year as chairman, of the Columbia Association, and have worked on committees including Planning and Strategy, and four terms on the Audit Committee - three as chair. During this time I’ve helped champion environmental and sustainability issues, pushed for the Board to become more future-focused especially in rebuilding our aging infrastructure. We’ve increased community engagement with projects like the Aquatics Plan, Watershed Master Plan development, the Connectivity Plan, and the redevelopment of Hobbits Glen. Serving five years on the Audit Committee, including three as chairman, I helped oversee the best financial year in CA history, worked to keep the assessment rate from increasing and reduced the assessment cap to its current level of 2.5 percent. Achieving these goals comes from a willingness to engage, seek consensus and work with those who have different perspectives and orientations. 

Clayborne Chavers

  • Served on transition committees for Howard County Executives Liz BoBo and Chuck Ecker and worked with Executive Hugh Nichols on economic development and county financematters.
  • Established the Howard County Equal Business Opportunity Commission and helped found the Howard County Warring Mitchell Law Society which promotes community involvement, inclusion and civil rights.
  • Served several terms on the Howard County Human Rights Commission.
  • Drafted Department of Housing and Urban Development's procedural handbook used in oversight of the National Environmental Policy Act and review of Environmental Impact Statements

 

What do you think are CA’s most pressing issues right now? How do you plan to address them?


Michael Cornell

There are many issues I see that require our continued attention.

  • Continued improvements to aging infrastructure.
  • Increased partnership opportunities with major stakeholders including, villages, county government, businesses and the state.
  • Implementation of the Inner Arbor Plan for Symphony Woods.
  • Completion of Dog Park on Columbia West side.
  • Expanded watershed projects including restoration and rain garden projects.
  • Development of an aquatics complex
  • Explore the creation of a small business incubator plan for locally owned in our village centers
  • Implement the “Here Comes the Sun” pilot program for low rate loans to residents to install energy efficiency and accessibility features in their homes

Working with senior management and Board members, I will continue to help drive those efforts, primarily through the strategic planning process and development of the bi-annual Budget.

Clayborne Chavers

Open and participative government - Government must be transparent.  I will ensure meetings are open to the public, agendas properly published, and full meeting minutes available

 

What has CA done well in your village?


Michael Cornell

I believe Susan Smith, our village manager, and her staff, have an excellent relationship with the open space team assigned to River Hill. Susan has also been involved with new initiatives for enhance communications and cooperativeness between CA and the villages. 

CA partnered with a locally based company with the installation of an energy producing GPS-based solar array.  

As you may know, the River Hill pool one is of the gems in the Columbia network of pools. It is consistently one of the most utilized pools in the community.

CA built and operates the Columbia gym contributing to the overall health of those who live and work in the River Hill Clarksville area.  Visitors to the gym are also patrons of the local businesses in the village center. 

Clayborne Chavers

The village center, gym and other village facilities are well maintained.

 

What could CA improve in your village?


Michael Cornell

Along with expanding watershed restoration projects, CA is planning an American Chestnut reforestation project here in the village. It’s an exciting effort to reintroduce a majestic tree that once dominated the Eastland forests of the United States. Watershed and restoration projects will improve streams, habitats and reduce future expenses associated with erosion.  CA and the county are working to create better connectivity of pathways and bike lanes, and are working to reduce congestion along the Route 108 corridor. 

Clayborne Chavers

I’d like to see more youth involvement. Actual dialogue with the young residents of River Hill in a way to empower them and encourage participate government and letting their opinions be heard.

I would also like to see programming that engages older resident involvement and empowerment. Non-patronizing real programs that share our diversity and curiosity about each other and themselves.

 

Why should voters elect you to CA’s board?


Michael Cornell

As an activist and one of the most progressive voices on the board, I have learned the value of working towards consensus. I will help drive the Board’s vision:  to create a Columbia our children will want to live in; to create a city that urban planners will still be talking about 30 years from now.

Bold, creative, innovation is what built Columbia and will ensure Columbia remains a world class community. This is the Columbia I will work towards.

Clayborne Chavers

Now the Council Corner column of the April edition of the River Hill newspaper The Villager shows how far CA's move away from the residents has progressed.  The Council Corner column this time has contributions from two current CA directors, and is entirely about the 'Inner Arbor Plan.'  It is apparently in response to resident concerns about how this new proposal was rushed to Board approval with close to no vetting before the residents. 


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